Bethesda news, restaurants, nightlife, events and openings, real estate, crime reports and more - the way only a lifelong Bethesda resident like Robert Dyer can bring it to you. Everything you want and need to know about Bethesda, plus special investigative reports you won't find anywhere else. The must-read blog for breaking Bethesda news, when you want to be the first to know.

PureRyde Bethesda, an indoor cycling fitness studio, will open at 6910 Arlington Road, in the Bradley Shopping Center in 2014. The space was previously occupied by Kae Robin Gifts.

PureRyde has locations in several states, including Texas and Michigan. It is now expanding via franchising. The chain is positioning itself as high-end, with luxury facilities. Clientele appears to skew heavily female at the existing locations. This Bethesda location will be the first in the DC area.

The ultimate selling point of PureRyde is its unique stationary cycle. Unlike typical gym bikes and spinning machines, the PureRyde RealRyder cycle can simulate turns and other real-life cycling movements, enabling riders to work additional areas of the body.

Making last-minute New Year's Eve plans? Here is my guide to some of the more intriguing New Year's Eve events at Bethesda bars and restaurants this year. The biggest news is the last-minute entry of the highly-anticipated Gringos & Mariachis restaurant to the list of New Year's Eve options.

Gringos and Mariachis

This is the one people will be talking about around town, given that the restaurant hasn't opened to the public yet! For only $45, be one of the first to try the food here (which you'd expect to be outstanding, coming from the folks behind Bethesda's popular Olazzo restaurant). Choose one item from each course on the 4-course menu:

Guardado's is offering an All-You-Can-Eat menu for only $50, including Champagne and noisemakers at midnight. 4918 Del Ray Avenue. 6:00 PM-midnight.

The Parva

Table service is already sold out in the upstairs lounge, but you can still enjoy two floors of music all night ($30) and add a 3-course dinner for $20 more. Ironically, one of the appetizers on the menu is Beef Empanadas, a New Year's Eve tradition for me. Call 301-312-6488 to reserve your dinner seat now. 7904 Woodmont Avenue. Starts at 6:00 PM.

Positano Ristorante

Positano will be open for lunch and dinner New Year's Eve, and there is no fixed menu or price; you can order whatever you like from the menu. They are also open on New Year's Day, from noon to 9:00 PM. Once again, you can order your preference from the regular menu. You may want to verify what the closing time is on New Year's Eve when you make your reservation. To reserve a table, call 301-654-1717, or email reserve@epositano.com. 4948 Fairmont Avenue.

Redwood

Redwood has a 1920s Prohibition theme, and numerous packages for all price points. There's even back room "gambling." If you just want to get into the party for $56, whisper this password to the bouncer after 9:00 PM: "blind tiger." See all the packages, and order tickets on Redwood's special website. 7121 Bethesda Lane. Dinner: 6:30, Speakeasy Party starts at 9:00.

Union Jack's Bethesda

Union Jack's presents its 8th Annual British Invasion Ball, complete with heavy hors d'oeuvres from 8-10 PM, a live DJ and dancing until 2:30 AM, party favors, midnight champagne toast, early morning Continental breakfast, billiards and darts, and drink specials all night. Order tickets online, or for a higher price at the door. 4915 St. Elmo Avenue. 8:00 PM - 2:30 AM.

Monday, December 30, 2013

The public will have a chance to speak on-the-record about the EYA development proposal for the Wild Acres property, which includes the historic Grosvenor Mansion. Wild Acres was home to Gilbert Grosvenor, the founding publisher of National Geographic Magazine. The property could become populated by over 140 townhomes, which are expected to sell for well over $1 million apiece.

A public hearing will be held on January 9 by the Montgomery County Planning Board. Currently, the hearing is scheduled for the 9:00 AM morning session. But always check the planning board website for agenda and hearing time; agendas are subject to change.

Welcome to The Dark Side of White Flint, an ongoing series about the not-so-wonnerful, wonnerful, wonnerful side of urbanizing the suburbs. These articles provide "the rest of the story" about redeveloping White Flint not found in rosy local media reports.

A Christmas shopping visit to the downscaled Toys R Us store on Rockville Pike brought disappointing, if expected, news: the store will close for good sometime next month, according to a store employee. Worst of all, the store is not relocating; it is the end for Toys R Us here. Having split my childhood toy purchases between this location, and the also-demolished Lowen's toy store in downtown Bethesda, this conclusion is certainly a sad one for me. The original Toys R Us structure was already demolished on the other side of the shopping center; this store is essentially a pop-up affair, but still had a decent inventory. As Toys R Us winds down from its final Christmas shopping season, a closing sale is offering modest discounts of 10-30%. Under the sale's terms, there are no refunds or returns. Shelves throughout the store are increasingly bare, and most are not being restocked.

The anti-suburbia activists will say this is no big deal, "change happens, deal with it," and that urbanizing strip malls on Rockville Pike will reduce exhaust emissions. All three arguments are false.

There is no equivalent toy store anywhere in the Bethesda or Rockville area. Furthermore, Toys R Us carries multiple toy lines exclusive to its stores. Having come directly from the nearby Target, I can confirm that the selections are quite different. And when the Toys R Us was fully stocked, there was simply no comparison between the stores. I am a big fan of Target, and shop at several of their stores frequently. But they understandably cannot devote the space or depth to toys that Toys R Us can, given the broader merchandise array of a big box store. The loss of convenience and toy merchandise selection is indeed a "big deal" for downcounty residents.

Change may happen, but in this case, the desire of parents and children to buy toys has not changed. Development decisions cannot be made in a vacuum, but must take into account the needs of current residents, and the general economic best interest of the area. There is no convincing argument for the destruction of a successful commercial area like Rockville Pike. And even less logic behind one that then banishes the longtime businesses whose stores are demolished. Change in Montgomery County today is primarily driven by development interests, even when other business interests are damaged in the process.

Finally, urbanization of White Flint and Rockville Pike is leading to more driving, not less. The patrons of demolished businesses astronomically outnumber the future residents of luxury buildings in the area. When that Hallmark ornament cannot be found in White Flint, or that Toys R Us-exclusive toy must be had for Christmas, shoppers don't deprive themselves - they hit the road. And now their shopping trip burns several times the amount of gas. So we've made our community less convenient (unless your life revolves around $100 restaurant dinners and high-end shopping 365 days a year), and increased auto emissions, to boot.

In what is becoming a "disposable society," there are costs. Welcome to the dark side.

Just over 20 years of business came to an end at The Waygoose on Hampden Lane yesterday. The American handicrafts business began in Rockville in 1993. After moving to Bethesda Row when the original store was demolished as part of the Rockville Town Square development in 2004, the owners eventually moved to Hampden Lane. A second Rockville store opened in the RTS development in 2007, but became an example of the failure of high-rent developments to retain local and small businesses.

Co-owner Deborah Simon posted the following sign-off message online:

"After 20 years (and 21 Holiday Seasons) it's time to move on and explore new pathways. It has been quite a journey -- filled with wonderful memories, people & stories.

Thank you, thank you to the many customers that made the journey with us. It has been so gratifying to follow along as families formed and grew. I am still astounded when I see those babies heading off to college.

To the craftspeople I have been so proud to showcase I have only two words: endless gratitude. Your creative spark and spirit have made Waygoose what it is.

To my Waygoose Family, I will be eternally grateful to you for your hard work, ideas, support and love.

My love affair with handmade works of art will always continue. I plan to maintain an online presence in order to help you find the work you have grown to love. So stay tuned.

Our doors close at 6 p.m. Saturday, December 28, but my heart remains open to you always.

Thank you,
Deborah"

Many promises were made that Rockville businesses would be able to return to the new town center after it was finished. However, Magruder's never reopened, and the town center never got a grocery store. A more high-end market, Dawson's Market, eventually leased the space that had originally been intended for Magruder's or another grocery chain.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Wendy's has a new burger for cold, late December: the Spicy Chipotle Jr. Cheeseburger. The Spicy Chipotle Cheeseburger features Wendy's Hot and Juicy hamburger patty, pepper jack cheese, sliced jalapeños, and spicy chipotle sauce. Let's try it out in this video review!

The latest twist in the recent crime spike across Bethesda is the theft of several vehicle airbags. One Bethesda resident tells me his airbag, and the entire center of his steering wheel, were stolen Thursday night. His insurance provider, and Bethesda dealership Chevy Chase Cars, both informed him that at least 4 airbags were stolen around the same time Thursday night/Friday morning.

As I have been reporting recently, there have been many thefts and vehicle burglaries over the last two weeks. Hot spots include downtown Bethesda, White Flint and western Bethesda (especially Sumner, with Baltan Road being hit the hardest). However, preliminary crime data does not identify how many of the stolen items were airbags. Until we hear more from the county police, it is not possible to know how widespread the airbag thefts are, and whether it is a new operation or accounts for thefts going back over the two week period.

Here is a roundup of crimes reported across Bethesda on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:

Friday, December 27, 2013

A while back I posted an exclusive tour of a finished unit at the forthcoming Gallery Bethesda luxury apartments on Auburn Avenue. But you can get an even closer look at the specific, high-end finishes used throughout the units and common areas in these photos. Click on each photo to enlarge for greater detail:

The much-awaited Roof Bethesda, opening tomorrow evening at 5:00 PM (Saturday, December 28), is now taking reservations via OpenTable. I checked this morning, and seats were available around the prime time of 6:00 PM. But probably not for long, as word gets out. Of course, you can also make reservations for any day and time using the OpenTable website. You can check out the menu here.

Thursday, December 26, 2013

The historic and famous Madonna of the Trail statue, on Wisconsin Avenue by the old post office and Hyatt Bethesda hotel, has been decorated for Christmas. This monument marks a spot where pioneers stopped for the night on their way to New Mexico in a Conestoga wagon train. Of course, the Hyatt wasn't there then.

Three thefts were reported in close proximity in downtown Bethesda on Monday, according to crime data. Thieves also struck at the Chevy Chase Club on Connecticut Avenue, and returned yet again to beleaguered Baltan Road in Sumner. The latter street has been victimized again and again by one or more thieves in recent weeks.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Pepperidge Farm has a special Goldfish graham cookie for the holidays - Goldfish Holiday Vanilla Cupcake Grahams. Does it really have the rich flavor of a Georgetown Cupcake or Tastykake? Watch my video review to find out.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays, to all readers! Thank you for your continued support; this blog can't be done without you!

A burglary was reported on Fairfax Road in Edgemoor this past Sunday, according to crime data. On the same day, a weapons offense arrest was made in the vicinity of the Wildwood and Georgetown Square shopping centers.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Lots more is lighting up at Donohoe's Gallery Bethesda construction site - including the address. The "4800" street address sign is lit now, announcing the luxury apartment tower's 4800 Auburn Avenue location. And street lamps are being installed in front of the building. The project is on track to be the first of several new luxury residential buildings to open in downtown Bethesda, and is also the tallest among them.

Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers is requesting reductions in its Hampden Row condominium approved site plan from the Montgomery County Planning Department. "Wait a minute... 'Approved site plan!?' I thought this thing was just announced," you might be saying. Apparently, the Toll Brothers City Living project for this Hampden Lane site is not originally theirs, but a revamp of a previous developer's plan, approved during the real estate bubble period.

Toll Md. IV, the applicant, is requesting a reduction in units from 60 to 55, a reduction in parking spaces from 88 to 69, and a trim of the building's recreational space to 6077 square feet.

According to a document filed by the applicant's attorney, Pat Harris, a more thorough preparation of building permit plans made clear that the proposed structure could not hold 60 units. The developer also believes the current market trend is toward larger units. Harris argues that the new proposal of 69 spaces provides one more than is required by the county, due to the site's proximity to Metro, and location within a transit development area. Likewise, Harris says the new recreational space is still 9% more than the county requires. Finally, the applicant says the new architecture will be more traditional than the site plan originally approved. Therefore, Toll Brothers is requesting amended changes to landscaping and benches.

Overall, Harris describes the proposed changes as minor. The final building design has not been viewed by the public, but the project has gained national attention as suburban homebuilder Toll Brothers enters the urban real estate market.

Monday, December 23, 2013

Thieves continue to help themselves to items from cars in Bethesda. Vehicle break-ins were reported in western Bethesda again on December 20, with 3 incidents off of Goldsboro Road, and one on River Road. Bradley Hills was also struck multiple times. It can't be said too often: lock your doors, and remove any items visible in the vehicle cabin.

Among other notable crimes, there was an assault reported on Johnson Avenue, and a robbery on Westlake Drive.

Pringles unleashed a December Surprise just days before Christmas: new Pringles Tortillas! Now, Pringles challenges Doritos and Tostitos in the corn tortilla chip market. How do they taste? Press the Play button to find out, in this video review! Subscribe to my channel, and you won't miss a single episode of the Christmas Countdown, with daily videos through January 6.

I was a witness to a moment in Bethesda history Friday night. As many of you are now well aware, the legendary Hamburger Hamlet restaurant has now closed due to bankruptcy. The restaurant had been in the Georgetown Square shopping center since 1973.

It had been mentioned that Hamburger Hamlet would close sometime this past weekend, after the online auction of the restaurant's physical assets closed Friday. In the process of Christmas shopping, I happened to pass by Georgetown Square twice Friday evening. Around 9 PM, the restaurant appeared to be open, and the OPEN sign was lit. On my way back from Rockville to Bethesda, I passed by again, around 11:00 PM. For the first time in a year, the 24-7-365 OPEN sign was extinguished (the restaurant had been open 24 hours a day since HH partnered with Du-par's last December).

By Saturday, Hamburger Hamlet was officially closed forever, as you can see in these photos. Hopefully Georgetown Square can find an exciting new restaurant tenant for the space soon.

The theft spree continues in western Bethesda, with thieves returning to Sumner and Green Acres, and hitting new targets, like Kenwood and Somerset.

A separate wave of vehicle break-ins occurred on December 18 in White Flint, according to crime data. An assault was reported at Bethesda Country Club on Bradley Boulevard the same day, as well as a drug arrest in Grosvenor.

Here is a list of crimes reported across Bethesda on December 18 and 19:

Saturday, December 21, 2013

The new location of City Lights of China on Bethesda Avenue (west of Arlington Road) has posted a "reopening soon" message out front. City Lights' former home, one block east on Bethesda Avenue, now belongs to ShopHouse.

Gamma Martial Arts Academy has installed signage outside of their location at 4833 Bethesda Avenue, at Bethesda Row. The school offers martial arts classes for all ages, and also hosts birthday parties.

The ads usually found around Bethesda Row are ones for the development itself, and its stores, restaurants and events. Now you'll find ads for just about anything on Bethesda Lane, after the installation of an electronic billboard screen. Imagination Stage, Sandy Spring Builders, and Supertooth Dental Group are among the first advertisers. The monitor itself looks like a giant iPhone.

Friday, December 20, 2013

Three more thefts were reported in neighborhoods along Massachusetts Avenue in Bethesda on December 17. One was in Sumner on Baltan Road, which has already been hit in this crime spike. The second and third were in the Green Acres/Glen Cove area. Since my last crime update, another theft was also reported not far from Baltan, in the 5100 block of Westpath Way.

If you live in the area, make sure your car and home doors are locked, and that all valuables are removed from the vehicle cabin.

Buyer's Edge, a real estate company, has moved into the former Just Cakes space at 4849 Rugby Avenue. Just Cakes closed March 17 of this year. The original Buyer's Edge office in Bethesda was on Hampden Lane. Buyer's Edge only represents buyers in real estate transactions, and operates in the DC area, as well as from a new office in Baltimore.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Cranky kids? Long day of shopping? Stop in at the new family room at Westfield Montgomery Mall. The space features child-level TVs and restroom facilities. Yet another upgrade by Westfield at the expanding mall.